Ferguson in a right Messi

SIR ALEX FERGUSON admitted Manchester United had been ­outplayed after they were given a brutal football lesson by Barcelona in the Champions League final.

ANGER Ferguson admitted a shoddy performance ANGER: Ferguson admitted a shoddy performance

Furious Ferguson accused his big-name players of letting themselves down in the defeat in Rome and said his team’s defending was shoddy. His bid to become the first to win back-to-back Champions League titles was crushed after goals from Samuel Eto’o and Lionel Messi sealed the trophy for the Catalan side.

Ferguson said: “The better team won. It was a disappointing performance and some individuals will feel that themselves. The first goal was a killer for us.

“In our best performances this season we have defended very well, but the defending tonight was shoddy. The goal gave them the opportunity to keep possession. We didn’t plan to lose a goal early but we didn’t deal with it well enough. That was the story.”

Cristiano Ronaldo, however, questioned Ferguson’s tactics, saying: “We only had 10 minutes and then we never found ourselves again. We did not do well.

HEADING FOR GLORY Van der Sar is left helpless as Lionel Messi seals victory HEADING FOR GLORY: Van der Sar is left helpless as Lionel Messi seals victory

“The tactics were not good and everything went wrong.”

Ferguson, who has never made any secret of the fact that he covets this trophy more than any other, said: “You have to give credit to a very good Barcelona team. They made it very difficult to get the ball back.

“When we did have possession we didn’t use it well enough. It could be we found the mountain too big to climb after we went a goal down. Who knows?”

ALL THE REACTION FROM ROME ON EXPRESS.CO.UK

THE MATCH IN PICTURES

Defender Rio Ferdinand, who had missed the previous four matches with a calf injury, said: “Not one of us can say we played well.

“Our whole season has been built on defensive strength, but we just didn’t play as well as we can.

“This was our 66th game and we have shown courage and resilience – but next season we will be better. That’s what this club demands.”

Wayne Rooney said: “It is a big disappointment but Barcelona were the better team. They scored two good goals and, unfortunately for us, they came at good times. That made it very difficult.

“Barcelona are a brilliant team. Andres Iniesta is the best player in the world, in my opinion. If you don’t take your chances against them, they will punish you and that is what has happened.

VIDEOS: CHAMPIONS LEAGUE POST-MATCH INTERVIEWS HERE ON EXPRESS.CO.UK

SIR ALEX FERGUSON ON WHY HIS TEAM WERE OUTCLASSED

MANAGER PEP GUARDIOLA ON BARCELONA'S VICTORY

“The feeling at the moment is not a good one. We are hurting.”

Victory completed a triumphant first season for Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola after winning the Spanish league and cup double.

He said: “We are the best team in the world. We wanted to say we played and were not cowards – and the players have done a great job.

“But this just the start for my team. It’s the way we did it that is really satisfying.”

BARCELONA 2 - 0 MANCHESTER UNITED

Would you like to receive news notifications from Daily Express?